"Anything less would be lacking in space and comfort, besides negating health and promoting social hazards in family relationship.

"With land premiums of low-cost houses fully subsidised, it would be feasible to maintain a low price for a three-bedroom, low-cost house," HBA president Datuk Zainuddin Bachik said at the Malaysia Property Expo 2002 held at the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre.

The four-day event, which ended today, saw the participation of 97 developers and 16 financial institutions.

Organised by the Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association (Rehda), more than 40000 units of properties worth over RM8 billion were offered for sale.

Zainuddin urged developers to emulate housing development practised in the West in term of landscaping.

"In the United States and other developed countries, housing areas are beautifully landscaped including outside the perimeter fencing.

"In addition, HBA also advocates stringent regulatory controls and procedural measures to weed out developers customarily referred to as wolves in sheep clothing.

"Only bona fide developers with strong financial banking and steady cash flow of fund, and are supported by letters of credit for bridging finance and good building track records should be given developer's licences.

On response to the House Buyers Guide published by the association, HBA secretary-general Chang Kim Loong said more than 2,000 copies had been sold during Mapex 2002.

Retailing at RM5 and available in three languages, the book comes in a checklist format and covers topics on legal fees, sale & purchase were agreement, financing/loans and insurance.